Coffin



D. S. PARE Dec. 8; 1970 COFFIN Filed Sept. 1"?"I INVENTOR Donut S. H4RE AGENT United States Patent Cfiice 3,545,055 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 3,545,055 COFFIN Donat S. Pare, Box 666, Black Lake, Megantic County, Quebec, Canada Filed Sept. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 760,184 Int. Cl. A61g 17/00 US. Cl. 277 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coflin made of separate molded elements assembled by cementing or glueing and characterized by a perf ct sealing of the cover, and also by the provision of handle means integrally formed with the coffin.

The present invention relates to a coflin and has for its object a coflin preferably made of synthetic resin reinforced by fiber glass and which for similar dimensions is of a much lighter weight than coflins made of wood, or metal, which is completely waterproof when closed, thereby avoiding the necessity of using a metal vault, which is completely noncorrosive, which has a long life without leakage, which can be made in such a way as to eliminate holes for securing metal corners or handles, whereby to further increase its fluid proofness, which is of simple and inexpensive construction, and which can have any desired outside appearance.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a coffin of the character described in which the handles are integrally molded and which is arranged in such a way that it can be very easily carried either at arms length or on the bearers shoulder during the funeral service and burial.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a coflin of the character described, made of a minimum of separate molded pieces which when assembled form all the elements of the coffin.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the coflin in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the separate main molded elements constituting the cofiin of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a partial cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

The cofiin of the invention comprises the following separate pieces: a bottom 1, shown in FIG. 5, a main element 2 forming the walls of the coffin, a half inside cover 3, and full outside cover 4. These four pieces are preferably made of a synthetic resin reinforced with glass fibers. All of these elements are separately molded preferably in accordance with the usual methods used, for example, in the manufacture of watercrafts, snowmobile bodies, and the like.

The bottom 1 is of generally rectangular shape and forms a wall 5, preferably provided with longitudinally extending corrugations6, for reinforcing wall 5. Wall 5 has longitudinal and end flanges 7 and 8 respectively at right angle with respect to wall 5 and of small width, whereby bottom 1 forms a shallow container.

The corners 9 between wall 5 and flanges 7 and 8 are rounded and so are the corners 10 between the flanges 7 and 8. Flanges 7 and 8 have substantially the same height.

The main piece 2 has also a generally rectangular shape and consists of longitudinal walls 11 and end walls 12 which form rounder corners 13. The upper edges of walls 11 and 12 are bent back inwardly to form a flange 16 continuous around the main piece 2 and at the same level.

Flange 16 is perpendicular to walls 11 and 12 and is provided at its free edge with lower level extension 17. The lower edges of walls 11 and 12 are provided around the entire perimeter of main piece 2 with an external flange '14 disposed at right angles to walls 11 and 12 and provided with an extension 15 also surrounding main piece 2. Said extension 15 is substantially parallel to walls 11 and 12 and spaced externally of the same.

At suitable locations along external flange 14 and opposite walls 11 and 12, this flange 14 is provided with openings 18 of generally rectangular shape, the long edges of which are downwardly extended, as shown at 19 and 20, the extension 20 being slightly deeper, and being bent towards the exterior. These openings 18 serve to receive the hand of a pall-bearer which engages the free end of extension 15 whereby the assembly forms a handle to carry the cofiin.

The free end of extension 15 is preferably provided with a molding 21, of generally U-shaped cross-section and preferably made of a synthetic resin sufficiently resilient and soft, and which extends opposite each opening 18. However, molding 21 can be continuous along the entire perimeter of extension 15.

The bottom 1 is cemented to main piece 2; more particularly the external surfaces of walls 7 and -8 are tightly fitted within the main piece 2 and are in contact with the inside faces of walls 11 and 12 and are cemented to the latter around the entire perimeter of bottom 1 inside main piece 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the assembled position of elements 1 and 2, wall 5 of bottom 1 protrude downwardly with respect to molding 21 secured to extension 17, whereby, when the coflin rests on a support surface it is easy to insert the hand within opening 18 and to fold the fingers around molding 21 to raise the coflin.

In the same manner, when the coffin is carried on ones shoulder, the rounded corner 9 of bottom 1 will rest on the shoulder and not the molding 21.

In order to further reinforce the coffin, a frame 22 also preferably made of synthetic resin reinforced with glass fibers, rests on flange 16 and extension 17, this frame 22 conforming to the flange and extension. Moreover, frame 22 is provided at the exterior of walls 11 and 12 with a trough extension 23 which surrounds the coflin exteriorly of walls 11 and 12.

If desired, trough 23 may extend along only one of the longitudinal walls 11, that is the back wall when the coflin is being displayed.

Frame 22 is cemented or otherwise adhered to main piece 2 and serves to reinforce the same. Moreover, trough 23 serves as hinge means for the external cover 4, as will be later explained.

Half cover 3 is molded in one piece, preferably made of synthetic resin reinforced with glass fiber and has any desired ornamental shape. It has preferably a convex form with edges 24 adapted to rest on the lower level internal edge of frame 22, this lower edge resting in turn on the lower level marginal portion .17 of flange 16. The half cover 3 generally extends half the length of the coffin to hide the lower part of the exposed dead person.

The external cover 4 is also preferably made of molded synthetic resin reinforced with fiber glass and has any desired external ornamental shape with suitable rounded corners. It is generally convex and provided With an edge 25 around the entire perimeter thereof, adapted to rest on top of frame 22 with the interposition of a sealing strip 26 surrounding the coffin. This sealing strip is prefer- 3 ably made of a polyethylene foam, but may be made of any other product. Preferably, this sealing strip 26 is adhered to frame 22; the internal face of edge 25 of cover 4 can be treated with a pressure sensitive adhesive which, when the cover is closed, will adhere to strip 26 so that the coflin will be hermetically sealed.

Cover 4 is provided with an extension 27 of angular shape. This extension extends downwardly on the outside of frame 22 and is adapted to engage trough 23 when the cover is closed. Moreover, extension 27 rests in trough 23 when the cover is opened and this trough extension acts as a hinge for the cover which is retained in opened position by any suitable stay means, not shown. If desired, cover 4 when closed, can be sealed in a still more fluidproof manner by any suitable sealing product filling trough 23 and covering the edge of extension 27.

The inside of the coflin can be lined with any suitable decorative material. For example, one can provide at the corners and at regular intervals inside the box formed by the coflin, posts 28 in any suitable material, such as polystyrene foam, which is light weight and resistant. These posts 28 are adhered to the inside wall of the coffin. These posts serve as means for securing silk, or other fabrics normally decorating the inside of a coffin.

These decorative fabrics can also be directly adhered to the inside surfaces of the box formed by the bottom 1 and by the main piece 2 and to the inside surfaces of cover 4.

As previously mentioned, the coffin in accordance with the invention is of light weight construction, for example, it will not weigh more than one hundred pounds for a wooden coflins weighing between two hundred and three hundred and fifty pounds.

The coffin is completely corrosion proof. When closed, it is completely fluid-tight and therefore does not need to be placed in a metal vault or the like. Moreover, being of light weight construction, it is easily handled.

Its external surface can have any colour and/or finish and moreover, the coflin can be decorated, for example, with metallic foil, cut out in accordance with any desired pattern and provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive to be directly applied to the external surfaces of the coflin.

Moreover, the coffin, when having rounded corners does not require metal corners. Moreover, separate metal handles are eliminated because flange 14 has openings 18 serving as handles.

The coffin of the invention is of rigid and long life construction.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention has been illustrated and described it is understood that various modifications maybe resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A cofiin made of molded material comprising an elongated box composed of two pieces, namely, a main piece of generally elongated shape forming longitudinal and end walls of the coffin, and a bottom piece comprising a bottom wall and right angle flanges inserted inside the lateral and end walls of said main piece, and adhered thereto, said main piece being provided at its lower edge with an external flange having an angular cross-section defining a first portion adjacent said longitudinal and end wall substantially at right angle with respect to said walls, and a second portion downwardly directed and substantially parallel to said walls of said main piece, said first portion being provided with longitudinally spaced openings serving for the insertion of a pall-bearer hand, the fingers of whom surrounding the external edge of said second portion.

2. A coflin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of said coflin is located at a lower level than the free lower edge of said external flange.

3. A coflin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall of said coflin is longitudinally corrugated for re inforcing the same.

4. A cofiin as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper marginal zone of said longitudinal and end walls of said main piece are bent inwardly to form an inner flange, and further including a half cover for said coflin, supported by said inner flange and an external full cover disposed over said half cover, and supported by said inner flange.

5. A coflin as claimed in claim 4, further including a trough like element protruding externally of the upper portion of at least one longitudinal wall of said coflin, said external cover being provided with an edge portion normally resting in said trough and capable of pivoting within the same, whereby the association of said cover edge and said trough serve as hinge means for said external cover.

6. A coflin as claimed in claim 4, further including a frame of generally rectangular shape and having a cross section fitting the inner flange of said main piece and engaging said inner flange, said frame forming on the outside of saidbox a trough like element over the entire perimeter of said coflin, said external cover having a marginal zone engageable with said trough like element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,769 10/1901 Drennan 27-6 729,921 6/1903 Duncan 277 1,375,758 4/1921 Kennedy 276 2,848,780 8/1958 Gosnell 277 3,159,901 12/1964 Harrington et al. 277 3,172,183 3/1965 Bugg 27 -7 FOREIGN PATENTS 652,638 11/1962 Canada 272 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner J. B. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner 

